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idreaminbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Murder
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
What the actual heck did I just read? No, really. What did I just read? I have no clue. I really don't know what even happened in this book - but I'm invested? How did that happen?
My introduction to Maggie's writing was with The Wolves of Mercy Falls. I read those as they came out, became totally obsessed (I was 100% a wolf-girl in middle and high school), and proceeded to read them a few more times over the years. I didn't even know that she was popular for other books. Leave it to bookstagram to show me the error of my ways. Apparently, I've been missing out with The Raven Cycle, so I gave them a go.
I was hooked from the first line of this book. It was such a crazy intro to the story. But from there on out, I had no idea what was going on. Raising some Arthurian guy from the not-dead? Ley lines? Who even is Neeve? I'm baffled.
Basically, I'm going to continue the series for a couple of reasons: 1) I am curious to see what happens next, despite not really even knowing what happened already. 2) Bookstagram seems to be obsessed and apparently Ronan Lynch is #todiefor. 3) I loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls so I have high hopes for this series overall? Sort of?
Wish me luck.
My introduction to Maggie's writing was with The Wolves of Mercy Falls. I read those as they came out, became totally obsessed (I was 100% a wolf-girl in middle and high school), and proceeded to read them a few more times over the years. I didn't even know that she was popular for other books. Leave it to bookstagram to show me the error of my ways. Apparently, I've been missing out with The Raven Cycle, so I gave them a go.
I was hooked from the first line of this book. It was such a crazy intro to the story. But from there on out, I had no idea what was going on. Raising some Arthurian guy from the not-dead? Ley lines? Who even is Neeve? I'm baffled.
Basically, I'm going to continue the series for a couple of reasons: 1) I am curious to see what happens next, despite not really even knowing what happened already. 2) Bookstagram seems to be obsessed and apparently Ronan Lynch is #todiefor. 3) I loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls so I have high hopes for this series overall? Sort of?
Wish me luck.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Anyone afraid of bees or other stinging creatures should beware because there's an entire graphic description about this. I know it bothered me so it could bother others.keen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Raven Boys is an enjoyable book. It's not usually the kind I'd read, as I tend to avoid Young Adult novels since the days of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and Legend by Marie Lu. This was not helped by the summary, with its focus on "true love's deathly kiss" and an apparently big romance aspect. It all looked so cliché. It took a friend suggesting me The Raven Boys, a praise from acquaintances, some spoilers, and, finally, the first friend wanting to read the book with me. That was when I gave in. Another friend buying me the book sure did help too.
And I was pleasantly surprised. It starts off seeming like a romantic-focused story, but while romance is a factor, it's written well and has big plot relevance other than love-triangle nonsense meant to keep people guessing who will be The One. Based on comments on other fans, they also acknowledge that the summary is misleading and doesn't give a good idea of the actual contents of the book.
As I continued reading, I had to reconcile with the fact that the book was slower than I'm used to. Most stories I read are fast-paced. Horror books are the ones I accept for being medium or slow-paced so atmosphere can be build up. I'd say this book was medium-paced, with the slow beginning used to build up characters in preparation for the later acts and future books. Aside from that, I have to take some blame in how slowly I read. The struggles of the character Adam were so relatable to me that I had moments where I wanted to drop the book. Luckily, I kept going.
By the end, I was deep into the story. Despite reading another book with this one, I had to keep myself from buying the rest of the series the moment I finished. I'm excited to see where this story goes.
And I was pleasantly surprised. It starts off seeming like a romantic-focused story, but while romance is a factor, it's written well and has big plot relevance other than love-triangle nonsense meant to keep people guessing who will be The One. Based on comments on other fans, they also acknowledge that the summary is misleading and doesn't give a good idea of the actual contents of the book.
As I continued reading, I had to reconcile with the fact that the book was slower than I'm used to. Most stories I read are fast-paced. Horror books are the ones I accept for being medium or slow-paced so atmosphere can be build up. I'd say this book was medium-paced, with the slow beginning used to build up characters in preparation for the later acts and future books. Aside from that, I have to take some blame in how slowly I read. The struggles of the character Adam were so relatable to me that I had moments where I wanted to drop the book. Luckily, I kept going.
By the end, I was deep into the story. Despite reading another book with this one, I had to keep myself from buying the rest of the series the moment I finished. I'm excited to see where this story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, and Bullying
atlas_shruggs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Blue tried not to look at Gansey's boat shoes. She felt better about him as a person if she pretended he wasn't wearing them."
-
This book holds my heart so fiercely in it's hands, and I love every bit of it. Coming back to the start of this series, my love for it is reawakened in full force. I fell in love with all the characters, the scenery, the writing, all over again. The slow pacing surprised me a bit, in my memory it felt like such a fast pace, but I savored every minute of it. The eerie yet beautiful atmosphere of the writing really pulls you into the book and makes you feel like you're really there, in Henrietta, exploring and experiencing everything right alongside the Gangsey. I also can't really pick a favourite character or couple, I just love everyone so so much.
I honestly want to start rereading <i>The Dream Thieves</i> immediately, but alas it will have to wait.
-
This book holds my heart so fiercely in it's hands, and I love every bit of it. Coming back to the start of this series, my love for it is reawakened in full force. I fell in love with all the characters, the scenery, the writing, all over again. The slow pacing surprised me a bit, in my memory it felt like such a fast pace, but I savored every minute of it. The eerie yet beautiful atmosphere of the writing really pulls you into the book and makes you feel like you're really there, in Henrietta, exploring and experiencing everything right alongside the Gangsey. I also can't really pick a favourite character or couple, I just love everyone so so much.
I honestly want to start rereading <i>The Dream Thieves</i> immediately, but alas it will have to wait.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
baladric's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm not really articulate about how incredible all of the books in The Raven Cycle are, but I can say very loudly that they immediately asserted themselves as a piece of my heart on first reading, and have only continued to grow in my estimation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent
booksthatburn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
THE RAVEN BOYS is a found family story of intense friendships, supporting each other's obsessions, and navigating the uneasy balance of helping someone but not doing the thing for them.
I was a little nervous when the start of the book seemed headed towards "girl torn between two boys and whoever she chooses will die". Maybe in the end the series will have that technically happen, I don't know yet, but in the meantime this is a complex and earnest story of five kids on the cusp of adulthood just trying to be good friends to each other even though disparities in privilege and circumstance stain their most heartfelt interactions. This is made more complicated when (because of clairvoyant stuff) the girl knows that one of the boys will die within the year. All five of them have their own unique tangle of issues and baggage and they don't say the right thing all the time but they're just trying to get it right (some of them act like they want to crash and burn and seem to be trying to get it wrong). Blue fits in among the Raven Boys without being overshadowed, I love her relationship with her family (especially in contrast to the way the boys are so disconnected from each of theirs). Gansey has all the money he could want but he can't just solve his friends' problems for them and it's tearing him up inside. Adam is determined not to be beholden to a rescuer, but needs a way out. Noah tries to keep the peace (or at least get out of the way). Ronan is great to have on one's side in a fight but oscillates between seeming apathy and violence in the face of an uncertain future.
The world-building is pretty decent on the magic front but definitely assumes that you know things like what a boys school is. The characters are very well developed but the world a step away from them is sparsely sketched at best, and it's a very character-driven story. I liked how focused it felt, and it was nice to have a story about teens who attend school that wasn't desperate for me to know what happened in each one of their classes, or exactly what Adam does at his job after school. It's a particular vibe and I enjoyed how it worked out here. When it does focus in on a location it paints it in vibrant detail, I'm thinking particularly of the grove. Each space is described based on how it feels to be there and secondarily on how it appears, which suited the increasingly magical bent of the story.
I'm definitely going to read the next book, I need to see what happens next for them.
I was a little nervous when the start of the book seemed headed towards "girl torn between two boys and whoever she chooses will die". Maybe in the end the series will have that technically happen, I don't know yet, but in the meantime this is a complex and earnest story of five kids on the cusp of adulthood just trying to be good friends to each other even though disparities in privilege and circumstance stain their most heartfelt interactions. This is made more complicated when (because of clairvoyant stuff) the girl knows that one of the boys will die within the year. All five of them have their own unique tangle of issues and baggage and they don't say the right thing all the time but they're just trying to get it right (some of them act like they want to crash and burn and seem to be trying to get it wrong). Blue fits in among the Raven Boys without being overshadowed, I love her relationship with her family (especially in contrast to the way the boys are so disconnected from each of theirs). Gansey has all the money he could want but he can't just solve his friends' problems for them and it's tearing him up inside. Adam is determined not to be beholden to a rescuer, but needs a way out. Noah tries to keep the peace (or at least get out of the way). Ronan is great to have on one's side in a fight but oscillates between seeming apathy and violence in the face of an uncertain future.
The world-building is pretty decent on the magic front but definitely assumes that you know things like what a boys school is. The characters are very well developed but the world a step away from them is sparsely sketched at best, and it's a very character-driven story. I liked how focused it felt, and it was nice to have a story about teens who attend school that wasn't desperate for me to know what happened in each one of their classes, or exactly what Adam does at his job after school. It's a particular vibe and I enjoyed how it worked out here. When it does focus in on a location it paints it in vibrant detail, I'm thinking particularly of the grove. Each space is described based on how it feels to be there and secondarily on how it appears, which suited the increasingly magical bent of the story.
I'm definitely going to read the next book, I need to see what happens next for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Vomit, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Sexism, and Death of parent
swampmonster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Good fucking god I forgot how good this book was. Miss Stiefvater your MIND.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt
oceannakolb's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence and Suicide
irlchaosdemon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
pinkberryoasis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence